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Why Rome? part 2


My kids and I love the book ‘This is Rome’ by Miroslav Sasek more than any other bedtime reading. One of their favorite pages is the one dedicated to the piazza of the Knights of Malta on the Aventine. They love it–as do many of the people who visit it–for the view of St. Peter’s that can be seen through the keyhole of the entry portico to the villa.


As the only major built work of Giovanni Battista Piranesi, it is one of Rome’s least well-known small masterpieces. This entry documents a visit we made to the grounds of the villa (residence of the Grand Commander of the Knights of Malta) and its church, S. Maria in Priorato, in 2012.



Top: M. Sasek's 'This is Rome 
Bottom: His drawing of S. Maria in Priorato and its keyhole.


View of Rome and St. Peter's from the terrace garden on the Aventine.


Students drawing in the Piazza of S. Maria in Priorato, June 2012








Detail of the Entry Portico of the Villa of the Knights of Malta on the Aventine.

     L. Michael Djordjevitch drawing in the piazza           R. Detail of the church door


                   L. James Diaz drawing the church facade   R. Mike Zaragosa drawing the piazza


David Markel sketching the church facade, 2012


Joseph Tralongo skecthing the church facade, 2012


                 L. Suzanne Smith drawing the church        R.Nina Roefaro drawing the interior


                   L. Detail of the apse                                   R. Detail of interior capitol


                  L. Keystone detail                                      R. Occulus detail


Mark Hendricks drawing the interior of the church, 2012


Garden gate, Villa of the Knights of Malta, 2012


Residence of the Grand Commander of the Knights of Malta, 2012


Sara Kramer drawing in the garden


Garden loggia with the arms of the Knights of Malta


View of the garden of the Villa of the Grand Commander


Sketch of a detail of the piazza, Richard Cameron, 2012


View of St. Peter's through the keyhole


Monument to Giovanni Batista Piranesi in S. Maria in Priorato






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